My every day cosmetics

I have a system in place to make my mornings less stressful and enables me to get ready for work pretty quickly. I have a box which houses all my essential cosmetics that I wear everyday. That way I can just haul my box out and apply my makeup without having to search for items that get lost in a big collection in unorganized storage.

My essentials box (excuse the dirty fingerprint marks)

Seeing as I use these products every day you can consider them in my 'favourites' category. Here they are starting with my base/clear canvas.

I'm not a huge fan of foundations so I only use BB creams and tinted moisturisers unless it's a special occasion. I am still madly in love with Essence's stay all day concealer! I use it for the dark bags under my eyes and as an eye primer.

Essence's My Skin tinted moisuriser, Ponds flawless radiance BB cream, Essence's All-in-one BB cream and Essence's stay all day concealer.

Next are my shading/colouring cosmetics. I like wearing a simple face so I don't really go crazy with bright blushes and crazy contouring. I use Physicians Formula's mineral glow pearls (2P translucent Pearl) to add a bit of shine to my dry winter skin, Gosh's Multicolour Blush (51 Bronze Pie) for a teeny bit of cheekbone contouring and Catrice's cream blush stick (C02 birds of paradise) for rosy cheeks and I set it with Yardley's Stayfast Velvet blush in 'Cashmere'.

Physicians Formula mineral pearls, Catrice's Cream blush stick, Gosh's Multicolour blush, Yardley's stayfast velvet blush.

Lastly I do my eyes! I use Gosh's brow kit to define my brow shape and set them in place. For my eyesahdow, I have been using NYX's Jazz Night 10 colour eye shadow palette because it has some great winter shades. I highlight with Gosh's smokey eyes palette (just the white) and I finish off by curling my lashes and applying mascara. I vary between Rimmel's Scandal eyes mascara, Rimmel's brand new lash accelerator endless mascara and Yardley's Luscious lush lashes mascara, all depending on my mood.

Gosh's Eyebrow Kit, Gosh's Smokey eye palette, Rimmel's Lash accelerator endless mascara, Rimmel's Scandal eyes mascara, Yardley's Luscious lush lashes mascara, NYX's Jazz nights eye shadow palette.

These seem to be my winter staple cosmetics so I will do an update in spring. Let me know if you like these collection type of blog posts and I'll start doing more :)

Feel free to click on the links I have provided above. They go to the reviews for each product!

Yardley's Luxurious Lush Lashes Mascara Review

I'm not the type of beauty blogger who purposefully buys a mascara that has just been lunged into the market simply because it is new and I don't already own it. There is nothing wrong with doing that, I just cannot afford that tight little habit. 

The chances are, if I don't get sent a newly released mascara, I wont try it. Simple. This is because I try and use up the current mascaras I am using (I have been sent) before I go out and spend money. Usually by that time, a new mascara has landed on my doorstep to review and so the vicious cycle continues. I think I am the only beauty blogger that has never ever tried Maybelline's infamous Great Lash mascara.

Anyhoo, I am actually here to report that I have found a gem amongst the stones. Yardley's Luxurious Lush Lashes Mascara. I cannot emphasize enough, how well the formula works for my lashes. The formula spreads my lashes out really well and they do not go limp and fall flat once it dries.

The proof is in the pudding;

Left eye is before, right is after (with the mascara applied). I was in a rush so there is a little bit of clumping

See? Pretty, dark, fantasy-like lashes. Now this is a mascara I would repurchase when it's finished!
Read some of my other mascara reviews here and here.

What is your favourite mascara?

Sexiest thing I have ever seen

This...

...I think I finally understand how men feel about cars. They dream about it, cant stop speaking about it and will try do everything in their power to get it and that's how I feel. I have never seen a sexier beast than the new GHD Eclipse. The design, look and feel utterly consumes you...and I haven't even seen it in real life!!

This new styler from GHD is one bad-ass beauty, containing 6 sensors throughout the plates to make sure your hair is getting even temperature for easier and quicker styling.

You can find this rare specimen in SA from May 2013. Read more here.

*Speechless*

Softlips, one of my all time favourites!

So a few weeks ago Softlips sent me some products to share with you lovely guys and gals which I was really excited about because the brand has been a favourite on mine way before I started blogging :) Here are the fantastic lip care products that I recommend:

French Vanilla

When I was in high school, I wasnt really the girly girl type but I still had a few staple beauty products I used. One of these staples was the very delicious French Vanilla Softlips. It is an amazingly clear scented lip balm that leaves your lips with a tingly fresh sensation.

 It really does hydrate your lips and it definitely surpasses the quality of other brands that I used at the time like Labello and Lip Ice. Another plus? It has an SPF 20 so your lips are extra protected from harmful sun damage.

Since meeting my boyfriend back in 2009, I have gotten him hooked on the yummy vanilla scent and powerful moisturising properties so it is definitely masculine enough and has my boyfriend's approval ;)

This is one of those nostalgic scents and I firmly believe it will continue to stay one of my favourite lip conditioners, as long as they keep making them!

Pure Papaya

For the environmental friendly individuals and organic fanatics, Softlips now have a whole "Pure" organic range with 100% natural ingredients in the balm sticks.

I got to try out the fruity Papaya balm stick and I must say I am impressed! I find that 100% natural products have a rough texture, weird scent and other funky particles that you dont find in factory processed products. This balm could definitely take on those products and win. 

The texture is nothing short of perfectly smooth, the scent is heavenly and it leaves your lips smooth and utterly kissable!

Good news for the ladies and gents who dislike the tingly feeling that you find in the popular French Vanilla lip conditioner. Seeing as this is a 100% natural product it doesn't have all the tingly ingredients and if you have sensitive lips they wont feel irritated :) 

LOVE IT!

Glimmer Gloss in Pearl Pink

Something else I hadn't tested from Softlips until now is their Glimmer Gloss lip gloss in "Pearl Pink".

I really love the subtle glossy finish that you can pull off on its own or over a lipstick for extra UMPH!

It has tiny little shimmers in it to give your lips a kissable sparkle. It has more of a 'thick oil' texture rather than 'your grandfathers wood glue' texture which is definitively something I am a fan of.

I also found the dainty 7g tube quite cute. It is perfect for fancy clutch purses or for inside the zipper of your hand bag.

I have a feeling this pretty gloss will be making an appearance for the new years party, midnight kiss ;) 

Tinted Rose

 Lastly I got to test out a very handy all-rounder lip balm, tint and shimmer aaand SPF.

Again, the smart Softlips peeps added an SPF 15 to this tinted lip conditioner as well as the tingly sensation infamous to Softlips. 

I have been wearing this rose tinted balm a lot around the office at my new job so I deem it safe for the workplace as it gives a subtle hint of colour without screaming "I just ate a doughnut covered in unicorn poop"

So you haven't heard about Softlips until now? Where have you been!? You can find Soflips pretty much anywhere. Pick'nPay, Clicks, pharmacies, petrol stations, probably even spaza shops :P 

Prices all vary but they are obviously quite affordable seeing as I'm not one of those Chanel-Gucci-Prada-Versace kind of bloggers. Duh!

Thanks so much to Softlips for my lovely lip goodies. Like their Facebook Page for news on everything that makes your lips soft!

Miss Claira-Bella

xoxo

Ear Ring Wishlist

View my Ear Ring Wishlist Pinterest board here.

YouTube Favourites: Rachhloves

Here are some of my favourite video's from one of my favourite YouTube beauty guru's, Rachhloves!

I love how she is really sweet and down to earth even though she's super pretty and she has the potential to be a "Blonde biatch".

View more of her video's here.

Miss Claira-Bella

Xoxo

YouTube Favourites: Cute Polish

Here are a few video's from one of my favourite nail art channels on YouTube called Cute Polish :)

She always comes up with the simplest tutorials that anyone can do :)

Visit her channel here

Facebook here

Twitter here.

Miss Claira-Bella

Xoxo

Lushy Lusciousness

It's not really new news that LUSH fresh handmade cosmetics (and body goodies) are opening in Cape Town at the end of September this year. This will be South Africa's very first LUSH store on South African soil and can I just say, I am frikin' EXCITED!

This is the most anticipated launch for us beauty bloggers and even though I am 1500km away, I am stoked that LUSH is just that bit closer to coming up to Gauteng. I have already checked out some of their products and below are a few products on my Luscious LUSH wishlist.

Follow LUSH on Twitter and like their Facebook Page to keep up with the exciting launch news.